This wine will hopefully create some interest! There is the `03/`04 on the market too right now, so taste ahead. I will post a WTN as soon as possible but go ahead if you have already tasted.

This is a unique, double-fermented blend of the Valpolicella grape Corvina Veronese with Argentina`s wonderful Malbec. Should be readily available with a bit of searching I hope! I know a few forumites are familar with this wine and the cost is very reasonable. Obviously, one could also taste a Malbec if this wine is hard to find or even the Campofiorin from Masi. Enjoy!!

I am in, assuming I can find this wine. Malbec is not my "go to" grape and most Argentine malbec appears over-the-top but this should be interesting. This weekend is my wife's birthday which means an old Bordeaux but can certainly fit another red in there sometime.
Walt

Interesting wine, Bob! I don't know if I'll be able to play this weekend - I haven't seen the wine here, and we're off to Florida in the morning for a long weekend - but thanks for taking the Open Mike, and I hope some folks can find it. A very interesting concept!

Thanks for the links Robin. I saw the piece from HRH Jancis and that is what got me thinking about pulling from the cellar and giving it a try. Plus I have seen the `04 on the shelves here. If forumites find this one hard to find,how about a Malbec or even Campofiorin? I will open my `02 this evening and we can go from there!

Jenise
Their site (which Robin attached a link to) will give a better description than I could, but it's a technique they (I believe) pioneered in Italy and have also utilised on the Passo Doble and Corbec wines from Argentina.
The technique adds a twist to the complexity of the wine (I like Oz Clarkes description of adding sweet/sour flavours into the mix).
regards
Ian

Adding to Jenise's question, is this "double fermentation" pretty much like the ripasso method used by Masi in its campofiorin, where the fermented valpolicello is allowed a second fermentation on the lees of the amarone?

In posting a note on the UK wine pages forum, Bob has also generated some interest over there. I'm tempted to either
a) post a link on both fora, to allow people to contrast and compare opinions (a cross-atlantic palate callibration exercise of sorts)
or
b) wait until both near an end and do the same

I don't see this resulting in cross-posting (which my poor little brain would find too confusing), but I think people might be interested to see a different perspective on the same wine.

Some thoughts for those that can't find the Passo Doble. If you see Masi's other Argentinian wine "Corbec" around, grab that (it's almost double the price though!). It's a reverse blend of the grapes (It think 70/30 Corvina/Malbec compared to Passo Dobles 30/70 blend). It's also more structured and IMO a pretty smart wine. Barring that I reckon there's plenty of good stand-alone malbecs in Argentina and Norton are pretty solid and I recall a good one from Finca el Retiro a good while back.

OW Holmes wrote:Adding to Jenise's question, is this "double fermentation" pretty much like the ripasso method used by Masi in its campofiorin, where the fermented valpolicello is allowed a second fermentation on the lees of the amarone?

AFAIK it's exactly the same thing, though which wine is passed over which skins I'm not too sure with these wines.
regards
Ian

To add just a bit more, this from Masi itself through one of its distributors:

"Masi Corbec Corvina / Malbec Appassimento, Tupungato.

Masi are specialists in the appassimento method with their four Amarone wines and three Reciotos in Italy. This is the method applied here in successive stages after a harvest of selected grapes for the final assemblage. The selected grape bunches were laid on specially constructed wooden trays, made in imitation of the Venetian “arelle”, for 22 days. The time taken for appassimento was short thanks to the naturally dry, warm and well-ventilated local climate. The unique and easy to recognise qualities of Corvina (hints of dried cherries and a velvety structure) have balanced perfectly with the exuberant virility and tannins of the Malbec, making for a unique and fascinating aroma/taste profile. As with Amarone, this wine will go well with strong-tasting foods (grilled red meat, roast meat, or game) and mature cheeses. "

2003 Masi Tupungato Passo Doble Doppia Fermentazione La Arboleda (Argentina, Mendoza) 10/08/2006
Relatively advanced violet-purple colour of reasonable depth, starting to show a fraction of age at the rim. On the nose theres violets as well as subtle dark fruits and a touch of smoky spice with possibly a hint of milk chocolate. Overall a relatively complex and balanced nose.

The initial taste sees a reappearance violets, plus a subtle mix of red/black fruits, though this gives way to quite prominent acidity and a more dominant taste of (slightly sour) cherry. Texturally it's medium bodied and there's a relatively supple mouthfeel. Tannins are light and intially hardly noticeable and the finish is moderate with just a touch of bitterness at the end. Not sure of any oak treatment, but I'm sure there's some smoky oak in there. I noticed quite a sudden shift from the initial fruit, to the acidity kicking in, which does detract.

Drinking well now, not sure whether cellaring will give this wine much more. A good wine offering decent value, but perhaps not in the same class as the 2000. I suspect this could be a fairly flexible wine with food.

regards

Ian

footnote: remaining half bottle decanted into the ever-present empty half and re-corked. Will re-visit in a day or two, hopefully to join in with anyone else who manages to get one or something similar.

My goodness, what a lot of action whilst I was out ! I have some info on the double fermentation somewhere here but think it has been nicely explained in a previous post! Thanks for opening the `03 Ian, have the `02 ready to go in a few moments. Your notes are appreciated and I see the forumites over the pond are into this wine to. Drink up!!

wrcstl wrote:I am in, assuming I can find this wine. Malbec is not my "go to" grape and most Argentine malbec appears over-the-top but this should be interesting. This weekend is my wife's birthday which means an old Bordeaux but can certainly fit another red in there sometime.Walt

That is my limit!! 470 is pretty good eh?!!! Where shall I go now, eBob? Whoa, I am up to 471...oh lalalalala. Guess how many posts on the Doris Day forum?

Double fermentation thingy...........quote from agents hand-out.

"After soft pressing of the Malbec, on-skin fermentationlasted 15 days.......the second fermentation was induced with selected yeasts and used 30% of whole Corvina grapes given a brief appassimento treatment before pressing....lasted ten days.....and followed by the final fermentation."

Opened an hour, good cork, slightly chilled and then decanted. No sediment noted. Nice hand-written label on the bottle, good touch but label has changed recently.

Color. Very dark inky intense centre with light purple tinges on the rim. Not much of a rainbow yet and no sign of bricking. Would think the Malbec content accounts for the depth?

Nose. Intense savoury black fruits, just a whiff of spice and chocolate. Yup, some cherry and raspberry shows up with airing plus some oak. Quite complex but could not find Ian`s violets from his notes on the `03.

Palate. The initial mouthfeel entry thoughts are soft integrated tannins, sour cherry, dry but not raisiny. Medium to full-bodied, the finish lengthens after an hour, lots of black cherry and some "amarone" feel. Do not think this wine has peaked yet, perhaps this is the style though?
It certainly does not have the bitterness that other tasters have noted elsewhere. Could be interesting to try again in a day or so

So not quite what I expected but a good wine here. Thought I might figure out the fruits here but tough! Really not too familar with this style of wine but should try the `04 and maybe a Campofiorin to refresh my memory.

Question for Ian on your notes on the `03? No mention of any raisiny hints there? If there, was it linked to the sweetness, know what I mean?

Bob
Definitely not in the full-bore amarone style (in fact from recollection, neither is the Corbec). As such there wasn't any noticeable raisin character in the wine and the finish is fairly dry. In some ways I think I'd like some of the amarone producers to have a look at this as an alternative style if some years they feel the grapes don't justify the full 15% alc treatment.
regards
Ian

Opened an hour, good cork, slightly chilled and then decanted. No sediment noted. Nice hand-written label on the bottle, good touch but label has changed recently.

Color. Very dark inky intense centre with light purple tinges on the rim. Not much of a rainbow yet and no sign of bricking. Would think the Malbec content accounts for the depth?

Nose. Intense savoury black fruits, just a whiff of spice and chocolate. Yup, some cherry and raspberry shows up with airing plus some oak. Quite complex but could not find Ian`s violets from his notes on the `03.

Palate. The initial mouthfeel entry thoughts are soft integrated tannins, sour cherry, dry but not raisiny. Medium to full-bodied, the finish lengthens after an hour, lots of black cherry and some "amarone" feel. Do not think this wine has peaked yet, perhaps this is the style though?It certainly does not have the bitterness that other tasters have noted elsewhere. Could be interesting to try again in a day or so

So not quite what I expected but a good wine here. Thought I might figure out the fruits here but tough! Really not too familar with this style of wine but should try the `04 and maybe a Campofiorin to refresh my memory.

Cost was $18.00 CdnFood, chicken scallopini with sauteed pots.

Bob
Thanks for this and to be honest the 02 sounds better than the 03! (AFAIK in general terms 02 was the better vintage). It even sounds more youthful comparing the notes. The bitterness on the 03 seemed to come through towards the tail end of the wave of acidity, but IMO they were two separate entities.

I also picked up some oak and I often don't pick it up as a direct taste (instead picking some of the secondary tastes). I checked on the website and I think it gets 9 months in French oak.

Out of interest, my note was taken after food (not alongside), as we were eating omelette, which wouldn't have done it justice. We'll probably finish the remaining half-bottle tomorrow night, so will report back on developments.

Yup, gonna do the same and try tonite. The notes we have posted make for some interesting comparisions eh Ian. Think I will buy the `04 on my way to the Grill and taste this weekend. Don`t you have one in your cellar?
Know what, we could do a chat on tuesday!! Name the time your end, 7 hours difference no? That chat that Tom has set up is cool and easy to access! I am told this one here is just as good. Would not fit in timewise for you?

Bob Parsons Alberta. wrote:Yup, gonna do the same and try tonite. The notes we have posted make for some interesting comparisions eh Ian. Think I will buy the `04 on my way to the Grill and taste this weekend. Don`t you have one in your cellar?Know what, we could do a chat on tuesday!! Name the time your end, 7 hours difference no? That chat that Tom has set up is cool and easy to access! I am told this one here is just as good. Would not fit in timewise for you?

Bob
Yes, I think the general idea is great and it's been good for me with a wine I've had some experience with before (a bit sad I hadn't kept any tasting notes though - that 2000 was a really impressive wine). It's always good to compare and contrast notes on similar wines and it's interesting speculating on the differences (different vintage / palate differences / context differences - even different ways of describing the wines).
I might not be able to persuade "the brains of the operation" to sacrifice our 2nd and last Passo Doble (maybe if I see another in town tomorrow, though...). Maybe we can plot (err I mean PLAN, obviously I didn't mean to say plot, yes p-l-a-n) something else for an open mike a couple of weeks down the line - perhaps something which is pretty widely available in US/UK/Finland/Canada etc. I'd suggest Musar, but Otto would probably grab the mike and not let go Can we keep the chat option open, as I'm not sure what our plans are (we might well be away on tuesday/wed but still to get everything sorted out ).
thanks for putting "the hard yards" in on this
regards
Ian